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The Battle of Jutland was a naval battle fought between the Royal Navy and the German High Seas Fleet on 31 May and 1 June 1916 in the North Sea near Jutland in Denmark. It was the largest naval battle of the the war. The German plan was to use their fast scouting group of battlecruisers to draw Vice-Admiral Beatty’s battlecruiser  squadron onto the main German fleet and there, destroy them. The two opposing forces met on the afternoon of 31st May 1916. A running battle ensued, during which the Royal Navy lost two battlecruisers, until the main German fleet was seen.  At this point Beatty’s battlecruiser squadron turned back and brought the pursuing German ships towards the main British fleet of Admiral Jellicoe. That night these two main fleets of 250 ships engaged each other twice before the Germans, recognising that they were outnumbered, broke off the engagement and returned to port. Both sides claimed victory. The British lost more ships (14) and three time as many sailors (6,000), but the Germans never brought out their main fleet again, preferring to concentrate on submarine warfare. Over 500 of those who were killed were men from London.

HMS Castor was a light cruiser and part of the 11th Destroyer Flotilla at Jutland. When the two main fleets clashed during the night, the advanced guard of German cruisers came in contact with the destroyer rearguard of the Grand Fleet which were in position on the wing closest to the enemy. At first there was a great deal of confusion regarding identification but when their powerful searchlights were turned on things became clear and both sides opened fire. HMS Castor was hit four times at 2000 yard range. Her motor launch was set on fire and the flames from that lit up the whole scene. She fired a torpedo before turning away and the brief action was over. Ten members of the crew of HMS Castor were killed, including Frederick Childs.